Contrary to her promise, it was a full year before Hinamori visited. It was a year in which Toshiro hardly spoke. It was not that he had nothing to say; it was just that he had no one to say it to. He would leave home for whatever purpose and come back later in the day never having

So it was that when Hinamori finally did come, he had become so accustomed to his own silence that let her do all the talking.

She was babbling on about her school while he dug into one of the watermelons his grandmother had had him buy in honor of Hinamori's coming home.

"And there's-are you even listening to me, Whitey?"

He spat a mouthful of watermelon seeds at her. "Don't call me that!" But he had looked the other way before speaking so she would not see his smile.

So she had not changed very much over the previous year after all.

"Maybe when you go to the same grown up school as me I'll call you by your real name."

"No way! Why would anyone want to go there?"

"I think you'd change your mind if you met Captain Aizen."

Toshiro's eyes widened. The captains were the elite of the elite of the Soul Reapers. When had she met him he could not even guess.

"He's so fantastic, and so strong. I hope I get placed in his fifth division when I graduate."

Toshiro rubbed his head. It did not matter how much she had changed or not changed. She wanted to be just like that captain. His only friend was lost to him now.

"What's wrong, Toshiro?"

"Nothing."/

That night Toshiro tossed and turned.

He was standing in a plain that stretched as far as the eye could see.

A wind blew in his face, a gust so strong that it knocked him over.

And behind the wind there was a voice. A booming voice that shook the land with each sound it made.

But Toshiro could not make out anything intelligible over the wind.

"What are you saying ?" he yelled, trying to rise. "I can't hear you! Who are you?"

The air crackled as the voice boomed louder. The intensity of the wind doubled, forcing Toshiro down again.

"Stop." he breathed. "Crushing…..me."

The pressure lifted, and he was forced to sit up by a wheezing cough.

Toshiro looked around. He was safe in his bed. And at least he had not woke his grandmother.

Still breathing heavily, he covered his face with his hands. Going back to sleep was out of the question. He was shaking, and knew he would continue to do for hours. Never in his short life had he been so terrified.

'That was terrible. I hope I never have a nightmare like that again.'